What I Promise You
by Liz Tolsma
Pub Date 01 Feb 2024
Barbour Publishing,Barbour Fiction
Christian| Historical Fiction

Barbour Publishing and Netgalley provided me with a copy of What I Promise You to review:

If you are looking for a powerful dual timeline novel, look no further.


1942
When Noémie Treves was arrested and taken to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in southwest France, her entire world was shattered. As soon as she arrives, she helps two young girls scheduled for transport escape to a nearby maternity hospital. She is befriended by the matron and her name is changed to help hide her. But nothing goes according to plan, and Hannah finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life.Hannah finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life when things don't go according to plan.
 
2022
Caitlyn Laurant hopes becoming a nurse on the mission field will help her forget recent events in her life. As part of her training, she and her friends travel to France, where her grandfather was born. A simple search for his birthplace turns into something far more complicated, revealing secrets no one alive has ever heard before.

I give What I Promise You five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

“What I Promise You” is a well-researched WWII story that blends narratives that take place during the 40s, 50s, and present times. I’ve always been drawn to WWII settings and the extraordinary people who persevered the ugliness with faithful hearts and incredible courage.

I love how part of this story addresses those who risk everything to save others. What a beautiful storyline. But what shines brightest in this story is hope the two main characters Noemi and Caitlyn hold dear. Though I found it more challenging to connect with Caitlyn, I connected with Naomi with ease, and loved their courage, adaptability, and faith.

This is a beautiful, heart wrenching, suspenseful, hope-filled, story for those who love to read clean, historical fiction with elements of spiritual faith.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

What I Promise You, by Liz Tolsma, is the second book in the Echoes of the Past series. The books are dual time line, stand alone stories that focus on WWII and modern day people.. In this story we meet Naomie, a young pregnant Jewish woman who is take away to a camp in France with her husband in 1942. We also meet Caitlyn, a young nurse training for the missionary field in 2022. While visiting France, Caitlyn searched to find out about her grandfather’s past.

This is an interesting story to read. We read of first hand accounts of what Naomie endured in France at the camp and then the maternity hospital. The person in charge of the hospital not only over sees it but she also makes trips to the camp to rescue others. I enjoyed the information of how the hospital ran and how she kept everyone safe. We also read of how Caitlyn is so diligent at searching for answers for her grandfather while struggling with the loss of her best friend and training for the mission field. I appreciate the in depth research the author has done to bring about this wonderful story. This is a wonderful story of living through extreme situations and moving forward with life.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

“You can’t live your life looking over your shoulder. Keep your eyes focused on what’s in front of you.”

As I sat down to read yet another World War II novel, this one What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma, I had to wonder why. Why are so many novels being written about WWII? How is this one different than others I’ve read?

The first question might be self-explanatory as we as a nation are at a point where we have very few survivors of WWII still alive, and perhaps we are trying to grasp pieces of history before they’re gone forever. Certainly, that’s one promise we want to make our ancestors- that we will never forget the atrocities that went on in Europe, man’s inhumane treatment of his fellow man, especially during that time.

Tolsma’s novel stands out because it deals largely with the treatment and rescue and raids of women and children. To think that a few people, like Nurse Reiter, Eleanor, Aime, and Helene could affect so many! While the characters are fictional, several were loosely based on real, live, brave people.

Another way Tolsma’s novel stands out is the fact that it is not a dual timeline, but a triple timeline! We are with Noemie in 1942 Perpignan, France, in third person POV; with an unidentified narrator in Elne, France, in 1955, written in first person POV; and Barcelona, Spain and southern France with Caitlyn in 2022, written again in third person POV. Tolsma exhibits a great deal of skill to have separated all those story threads beforehand, then to slowly piece and wind them, bit by bit, back together again! I loved how not only is What I Promise You historical and romantic, but now another layer has been added- that of mystery.

The depth of this story! The emotions each time period evokes! My heart is raw! When will Helene stop trying to give more than she can, in order to atone for her perceived past sin? When will Caitlyn decide whether she is following God or her plans from her childhood? Who will God place in these young women’s paths who will be a light in their darkest times?

I personally loved all the French phrases and felt it added an authenticity to the book. A glossary is provided at the front.

I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit via Netgalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“To give your offspring the best chance they have at life is the greatest gift you can give them.”

“What is right is not always easy.”

“There’s always the choice to do right or wrong.”

“I can’t live my life in fear of what might be. If I do, I’ll miss out on what is.”

From a most sad time in history, World War II. This story is written so well from 3 story viewpoints describing the 1940s lady, the 1950s lady who you think is the 1940s lady and then the 2000s lady who is related to one of these ladies. A genealogy mystery to solve, with sleuthing skill help from Caitlyn’s friends. As Caitlyn tries to figure this all out, she comes to a personal healing revelation for herself and heals from a traumatic experience involving her good friend. I appreciate the hard research work that went into writing this book. There are also many good quotes in here. I received this book for free from Celebrate Lit Tour and the opinions I express are honest and my own.
“You can’t live your life looking over your shoulder. Keep your eyes focused on what’s in front of you.”
“Do you promise to spend more time with the Lord and quiet yourself before Him.” – Quotes from book.

Dual time periods always intrigue me and this one has a bonus. It includes three time periods which adds to the excitement. We travel to a time in history where war was everywhere. People who were Jewish were taken to camps where families were split apart. Every time I read about this period in time I get emotional. How can someone have such hatred for others?

I was a bit confused about who was narrating the story set in 1955 and hoped it would be revealed sometime in the book. I kept thinking that whoever it was was going to be vital to the entire story as we get glimpses of someone wandering around an abandoned building. The author does a good job of keeping readers glued to the story as she brings the time periods together in an unforgettable story of family, faith and healing.

Caitlyn was the one who most captured my attention. Going away to become a missionary is admirable and at times you can sense her insecurity. Caitlyn has another agenda as she flies across the country. She promised her grandfather that she would visit the place he said he was born at. As her adventures begins to seek the truth, the author crafts a way to combine our three time periods together.

There is much grief suffered from a time when camps where there to keep people that had been judged unfairly because of their heritage. The story shows how a few people stepped up to save innocent children and women while placing their own freedom in jeopardy. Caitlyn comes to realize that she hadn’t really grieved the loss of her friend. She has been living her friend’s dream instead of her own.

The ending is so emotional I cried. A simple promise made to a friend finds Caitlyn on a journey to discover God’s purpose for her life. Her spiritual growth throughout the story is shown by her hunger to connect the past to the present. The author provides a realistic look at a time when families were torn apart and hope was all they had to cling to. I loved the story and how the author gave us a look at what sacrifice looks like by people who are willing to protect others.

“Sometimes what He has planned for us is radically different than what we have in mind for our own lives.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

What I Promise You by extraordinary wordsmith Liz Tolsma is Book Two in her Echoes of the Past Series. It may easily be read as a standalone. Beginning in 1943, jumping to. 1955, and finishing in 2022 this incredible tale combines history, contemporary, World War II, and Christian fiction in a masterful way. It gave me all of the feels and emotions.

The book begins with Noemie Treves, a pregnant Jewish woman. During the time of the Holocaust, she and her husband are arrested. The author has done research to provide accurate details of this horrible time in our history. Characters are expertly crafted and come alive on the pages.

There are suspense, mystery, drama, as well as a beautiful Christian message all blended into this novel. The story is captivating and the writing superb. This tale will stick with you long after you have finished it.

I highly recommend this poignant book. It receives a 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

This was a great story, partially based on true facts. A time slip novel with three separate parts. In WWII when Germany began invading parts of France, many Jews were captured and taken to prison camps. One such couple was Noemie and Levi Treves. Taken from their home with very few possessions, they were taken to a prison camp simply because they were Jewish. Eventually Noemie was smuggled out along with two little girls. New Gentile identities were given to hide their Jewish heritage for safety. In 1942 we follow Noemie and her trials and heartbreaks during this cruel war. In 1955 we follow reflections from a participant remembering the things that happened back in 1942. And thirdly in 2022, we learn of Caitlyn Laurant and her struggles after a horrific car accident. Piecing the complete story together was eye-opening and historically sad in parts. I’ve often heard it said that we should always remember the holocaust and those that suffered and died because of their heritage. Learning new things of history through fiction is a great way to broaden our minds and I certainly learned some new and also interesting things.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review.

What I Promise You is a wonderful dual-timeline historical fiction novel that gives you two love stories plus suspense and a mystery. Both stories are connected but they’re also unique and their own stories to be told as well.

One story takes place in France during WWII. We follow a Jewish couple who get taken to a concentration camp and then we follow Noémie as she changes her name and her identity as well as goes through some unspeakable horrors. It’s hard to tell my thoughts on her story without giving away the story. But I’ll say she does get out of the concentration camp and into a maternity home. But what happens next is chilling and I will say that I shed tears while reading her story.

The modern-day story is about a college-level student and her struggle with anxiety and who she is/what she should do with her life. She’s also searching into her family’s past. They’re from the part of France she’s visiting and she wants to find out their history. But what happens when what she thought was the truth turns out to be not the truth she was expecting.

I’d love to see a sequel to this book. It was wonderful but I want to know more about Caitlyn and what happens after this book stops. Oh and if the author wanted to share what occurred between WWII and the modern-day story I’d take that too!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Courage, Resilience, Faith

What an amazing book of courage, resilience, and faith this Historical Fiction book is. It took me a bit to follow the storyline, but once I did, I really enjoyed the book. There are three portions of the book beginning during WWII in 1942, 1955, and 2022.

Hannah, a young, pregnant, Jewish woman is arrested and ends up in Camp Rivesaltes. Before she is moved on to Poland with other captives she escapes to a maternity hospital. She becomes a very integral part in helping other women and children who have escaped.

Moving forward to 2022 Caitlyn is training in Portugal to become a missionary nurse. While there she badly wants to search the heritage of her grandfather, a Jew, who was born in France during the war.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it especially to those readers who enjoy Historical Fiction. I received a copy from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review.

What I Promise You captured my attention from the beginning, as do all of Liz Tolsma's books. It's a bittersweet story, packed with action, and faith. It provides a different angle on events during World War II. You will also find how challenging it can be to trace one's Jewish ancestry from the war.

If you enjoy stories set during WWII, in France, and of some of the heroes/heroines risked their own lives to help save Jews during the war, you will certainly want to add this book to your list of books to read.

Tolsma has given readers another informative and entertaining novel focusing on one aspect of efforts to save Jewish mothers and children from death during WW II. I really appreciate Tolsma's note at the end of the book identifying the historical facts upon which she wove her fiction.

There are a number of issues explored in this novel. One issue is the time and effort needed to recover from from a traumatic experience and the false guilt experienced when helpless to prevent the tragedy. Other issues include still birth and ancestry issues. The most interesting issue for me was discerning God's will in a calling and not trying to live a friend's dream nor live to the expectations of others.

This book is a good one for readers who like finding out more about WW II and the courageous heroes who put their own lives in danger to help others. There is a good faith message and a little bit of romance as well.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

#WhatIPromiseYou #NetGalley
I can hardly express what this book meant to me. I read it in less than twenty four hours. The horrors of the Nazi's and WWII, the heroine and heroes that came out of that time period. Those who helped the Jewish people during a time that was horrendous. Many who lost their own lives to help those in need. This story is told in three different time periods and though that sounds complicated it really wasn't at least for me.
I got so caught up in the story that I had to keep reading. There was something to learn from each time period. This story will bring you to tears keep your tissues handy,

What a heart-wrenching read for any mama out there! This is a three-timeline book that was a little difficult to get into, just because of the multiple sets of characters and times, but once the reader gets a grasp on those, the book is impossible to put down. A story of resilience, sacrifice, courage, and strength of character, the central character is the little baby who grows up to be an older man dealing with dementia and impending death. We meet the women who loved him during our three timelines - the women most pivotal in his life - and watch as they grapple with what is best for him. Set in World War 2 and post-war France, as well as modern day America, this is a mystery that you'll want to curl up and finish in one super long night!

I absolutely couldn't quit reading this once i had started. The Jewish concentration camps of World War II have always been difficult for me to read about, but cruel and heartless as it was, Noemie's story was just a little different. She displayed such bravery and her heart for helping others, clear through to the end. I admired her so much for how she handled heartbreaking loss while still using every ounce of courage she could muster when someone else needed help. I often wondered if I would have been brave enough to take the risks Noemie did, all for the sake of those worse off than herself.
The later time story of Caitlyn searching for facts about her Jewish ancestors was almost like reading a cozy mystery. Throw in a little romance and some emotional trauma and I had every reason to keep turning pages as fast as I could.
You wont want to miss this beautiful story of overcoming loss by Liz Tolsma. You will remember these characters long after you're done reading.

I've read several dual-timeline novels in the past year, but this book has three timelines! One is set in current-day America, another in 1942 South France and the third timeline takes place in 1955 South France. What I Promise You is a riveting tale of three young women who suffer tragedies that would break most people. Two of these women are caught up in the death and destruction of WWII and the third discovers a special connection with one of the others. It's left up to us to discover just what it is!

How can I best describe this book? Captivating? It has memorable characters and page-turning suspense. Inspiring? There's a beautiful faith message within its pages. Unforgettable? It's a poignant portrayal of the pain, hurt, and death that occurred during this time in history, and a powerful reminder that we must prevent this evil from ever happening again! What I Promise You is stunning historical Christian fiction!

I accepted a digital copy from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review. I am freely sharing my thoughts

What I Promise You is educational about life for a young Jewish woman during World War II. The book is actually written in three different time lines so was a little difficult for me to keep up with. I learned much about being a pregnant Jewish woman who escaped imprisonment to a maternity home during the war. The current time line was about a college student in France who is attempting to trace the birth of her elderly grandfather who believes he was born in the maternity home during World War II. Caitlyn Laurant searches for his birth information and does a DNA test which does not show Jewish ancestry! Secrets revealed are very interesting! I recommend What I Promise You to history lovers. I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. This is my honest opinion.

What I Promised You by Liz Tolsma
What I Promised You by Liz Tolsma is a time slip story, which has three settings 1942, 1953, and 2022. This was the first book I had read by Liz Tolsma, and I look forward to reading others by her. I appreciate that she carefully researches for historical accuracy.
2022: While Caitlyn is in Spain training to be a missionary nurse, she takes side trips to France to investigate her grandpop’s history, especially information about his mother.
1942: Pregnant Noemie and her husband are taken to a concentration camp because they were Jews. There is much more to her story.
1955: An unidentified woman is roaming through an old house in France while she waits for someone. We find out that it was a maternity hospital and home for a few orphans.
The stories of 2022 and 1942 are very interesting and tense. There is danger and some light romance. The 1955 story seemed to be an interference or distraction to me, but in the end it made sense.
There were a few things that annoyed me a bit. Caitlyn dwelled too much on the death of her best friend. I do not belittle sorrow for losing her friend, but it seemed so constant. Also, Caitlyn’s grandfather was described as very old-like a 98-year-old rather than 79 years old. I also was born November 1942. People I know are not that elderly and feeble. There were also some items and vernacular that did not belong in the various eras (e.g. pantyhose in 1955).
I highly recommend this book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
I was given a free ARC book by NetGalley and the publisher, but my opinions are strictly my own.
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As I've come to expect from Tolsma's books, this is a beautifully written, though heartbreaking, story. It's unusual in that it's told through three different time periods: 1942, 1955, and 2022. Characters are well-crafted and realistic. The timeline is complex due to the various time periods. However, everything is well connected across the generations. Themes of love, sacrifice, resilience, and faith are key. The descriptions are vivid, allowing the reader to picture everything from the Mediterranean sea to the Pyrenees Mountains. Timelines are seamlessly linked together. Religious elements are woven throughout, but they're not preachy. Hope, even during the dark times, shines through.

A stirring time-slip novel portraying loss and healing through the lives of three very different women. I was hesitant to read another WWII novel, but Tolsma has written a very different story linking these brave souls together by their love for one man (with three different names). One gave him birth, one rescued and raised him, and one loves him as he approaches dementia and death. Each of these woman ask hard questions about God's goodness and power as they deal with incredible grief. But raw and honest love eventually gives them the perspective they need to make courageous choices. Such growth and sacrifice! I really couldn't put this book down. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and was not required to post a review.